Port Hood Day Park, Inverness Beach, and Margaree Harbor, Cape Breton Island

I was already is love with Nova Scotia before I crossed over to Cape Breton but the island clinched it. On my counter-clockwise tour I first stopped at Port Hood Day Park for a walk on the beach. I wasn’t expecting such varied beach landscapes with both rocky areas and stretches of red sand and I was pleasantly surprised. I walked around the point and then returned via the boardwalk trail which provided stunning views of the dunes and flowering meadows.

Beach, Port Hood Day Park, Nova Scotia, Canada

Beach, Port Hood Day Park, Nova Scotia, Canada

Beach, Port Hood Day Park, Nova Scotia, Canada

Beach, Port Hood Day Park, Nova Scotia, Canada

Beach, Port Hood Day Park, Nova Scotia, Canada

Beach, Port Hood Day Park, Nova Scotia, Canada

Beach rocks, Port Hood Day Park, Nova Scotia, Canada

Beach rocks, Port Hood Day Park, Nova Scotia, Canada

Tumbled rocks on beach, Port Hood Day Park, Nova Scotia, Canada

Tumbled rocks on beach, Port Hood Day Park, Nova Scotia, Canada

I thought these berries were beautiful, Port Hood Day Park, Nova Scotia, Canada

I thought these berries were beautiful, Port Hood Day Park, Nova Scotia, Canada

Dunes, Port Hood Day Park, Nova Scotia, Canada

Dunes, Port Hood Day Park, Nova Scotia, Canada

Golden dune grass, Port Hood Day Park, Nova Scotia, Canada

Golden dune grass, Port Hood Day Park, Nova Scotia, Canada

I stopped on my second day at Inverness Beach, which features a Boardwalk Trail with views of the town as well as the beach and dunes (also a golf course, if that’s your thing). I arrived near sunset and decided to overnight at the beach, which is situated next to the town wharf, and quite a busy one it is; I was accustomed to the overnight activity while sleeping next to wharves but this one seemed exceptionally active. The mile or so Boardwalk Trail along the dunes made for a pleasant morning walk making it a pretty nice place to spend the night.

Sunset at Inverness Beach, Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada

Sunset at Inverness Beach, Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada

Morning sun over Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada

Morning sun over Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada

Inverness Beach, Nova Scotia, Canada

Inverness Beach, Nova Scotia, Canada

Boardwalk Trail, Inverness Beach, Nova Scotia, Canada

Boardwalk Trail, Inverness Beach, Nova Scotia, Canada

Walking behind vertical dunes on Boardwalk Trail, Inverness Beach, Nova Scotia, Canada

Walking behind vertical dunes on Boardwalk Trail, Inverness Beach, Nova Scotia, Canada

Driving up the Cabot Trail I made a few additional stops before nearing Cape Breton National Park to enjoy the coast along the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Margaree Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada

Margaree Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada

Margaree Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada

Margaree Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada

Gulf of St. Lawrence from Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia, Canada

Gulf of St. Lawrence from Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia, Canada

Gulf of St. Lawrence from Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia, Canada

Gulf of St. Lawrence from Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia, Canada